Tennessee Titans 2019-2020 Season and Beyond

[TennesseeTuxedo]

This is a nice post from a thoughtful poster who goes by the name Code on one of the titans boards.

“We played with house money today. Got beat by a better team with probably the best QB in football today. He was special. I haven't read a thing on the board. But I can't feel badly about a team that overachieved. They played a good football game today. They had one brutally bad PI call on Brock, but all in all, if was a well played game - Chiefs played nearly perfect football. So it goes.

A few of the most important highlights from the past season:

• Derrick Henry emerged as a top 5 back in the league.
• Jonnu Smith, Anthony Firkser and Pruitt eliminated the need to resign Delanie.
• Roger Saffold and young Davis along with Ben Jones cleaned up the middle of the field and proved to be dominant run blockers (until today). Resigning or at least franchising Jack Conklin would bring back an offensive line that is as good at run blocking as it gets.
• AJ Brown proved to be a true #1, and Corey Davis and Adam Humphries appear to be the perfect complement.
• Rashaun Evans, Harold Landry, Jayon Brown, David Long, Correa and Roberson give the Titans a really athletic group of linebackers still with room to improve.
• Simmons, Jones and Casey are stout up front, And Simmons will only be better next year with a full offseason to rehab.
• Vacarro, Byard, Jackson, Hooker, Butler - even Brock -- its not the best secondary in the league, but its a very good one.
• Mike Vrabel continued to grow into his role. Always a master motivator. Clearly good in helping to develop talent. And getting better as a game manager.
• Arthur Smith proved to be more than capable as OC.
• Dean Pees remains a Top 5 DC.
• Brett Kern makes the punt game elite.
• We were almost alway better in the 2nd half of each game. We were rarely undisciplined in terms of taking mindless penalties (once Taylor got his shit together).
• It became clear and obvious even to the nut jockeys like myself that MM needs to play for another team next season (or resign at a low one-year contract as a back-up to our starting QB).

In total, you have to give it to Jon Robinson and staff. Exceptional draft. Great free agency year. Incredible trade for Tannehill who in every way was the reason that our season went from outhouse to penthouse.

That said, decisions in this upcoming offseason will be monumental.

• Decision to resign Ryan Tannehill. For me, this isn't a no-brainer based on his playoff performance. Not that it was bad. It was OK. Like Joe Flacco's two Super Bowl runs. Tannehill was great in the regular season. But what we saw today was the difference between Mahomes elite QB play and Ryan's good QB play. I think the Tannehill will be a capable starter for the Titans for 3-4 seasons PROVIDED that he signs at a number which would allow the team to keep Henry and Conklin. He simply isn't elite. We can't afford to put $100 million in his wallet for 3-4 years. It eats too much cap space and buys a good not great QB. Now, 3 years for $63 million with a club option for a 4th at $25 million (never to be exercised) and I think we have a QB. Otherwise we have to look at the free agent market and decide if we are just as well off with an Andy Dalton on a two-year prove it contract of a Philip Rivers on a one year Super Bowl or bust kind of a deal.
• Decision to resign Jack Conklin. Titans have a ton of money invested upfront in Lewan and Saffold. Jones and Davis are relatively low cost. Conklin for me is a lot like Tannehill. He has proven to be an above average RT. Not sure if he will be worth the 5 year/$$75 million it will take to keep him. Now, if the Titans choose to franchise Conklin knowing that they have a deal in place with Tannehill, that is the clear path to take.
• Decision to resign Logan Ryan. I think the best DB on the team, but think the decision comes down to either keeping him or trying to resign Jackson long term. If Brock can be resigned. And if Butler is healthy. Then moving Jackson inside to replace Ryan is possible. And I still think Hooker has a chance to be very good.
• Decisions are likely already made on both Woodyard and Walker and Bates - but those are three big time vet presence players - and while their prime is past, wonder if a low cost vet contract might be tendered to either of the final two.
• And the toughest decision of all - resigning Derrick Henry. He will command a $13 - $15 million annual contract at a position that isn't getting that kind of roster cost around the league. Of all the Titan free agents, he is the one that I would most want to Franchise. No signs of aging to date. But when his speed goes, his value will diminish rapidly.

Of course, the free agency decisions impact the draft decisions, and obviously will also impact our own free agent pursuits. Along with all the big names, Firkser, Pruitt, Kelly, Austin Johnson, Correa, Sims and Sharpe are all able to explore free agency. For me, Correa, Pruitt and Firkser need to be brought back, and both Johnson and Kelly are valuable depth.

The season was fun - at least the second half of the season and the surprising playoff run. This offseason is pivotal. Get it wrong and we stumble back into mediocrity. Get it right and we are well positioned to contend for at least 3 more years.

Looking forward to seeing it unfold.

Oh, a final thanks to Marcus. As always, you made me wrong about the QB of the future, but the kind of guy that made it easy to support -- wrongheadedly.”